Damascus ready for 2026

Damascus, Virginia is gearing up for the 2026 season. There's another unusual year ahead, with the rebuilding of the Virginia Creeper Trail underway and the upper half still closed. However, this also presents an opportunity. The town is undergoing a renaissance of sorts - the community is innovating, reinventing, and pulling together to expand its definition of Trail Town USA. The beloved Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail pass right through the heart of Damascus. There are also several other major hiking, cycling, and motor routes that converge downtown too. Among them are the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail Route 76, TransVirginia Bike Route, Iron Mountain Trail, Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route, The Crooked Road, and the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway. The 2025 season added the new South East Backcountry Discovery Route and the first Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail site in Virginia. From this tiny town in Southwest Virginia, these trails connect to many places far and wide. As each trail passes through Damascus, it brings along people, stories, and culture from all walks of life. These trails give good reason to celebrate and Damascus has a busy season ahead: April 10-12 — Damascus Trout Days May 15-17 — Appalachian Trail Days Festival May through October — Damascus Farmers Market on Thursdays June 5-7 — Damascus Adventure Moto DAM 200 June 6-7 — Dam Yeti 55K & 50 Mile Endurance Run July 24-25 — C-TREC Creeper Trail Ride to End Cancer September 5 — Iron Mountain Trail Run October 2-3 — Damascus Festival of Miles Small business remains at the core of Damascus' revitalization. Several new businesses are starting up in town, including Trail Town Adventure Golf's indoor mini-golf course and golfing simulator, Bad Bagel's Pet Emporium's boutique pet store, Stone Fly Co.'s fly shop and guiding service, Along for the Ride's overnight stays by train, and Cardinal Music Hall's listening room. Wilson's Cafe & Grill is restarting morning hours this spring with coffee and baked goods, in addition to their lunch and dinner menus. Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery has added themed nights with Western Wednesdays and more. The Damascus Old Mill Inn was able to keep its doors open for the first winter season in many years. The Tipsy Bear has built a weekly lineup of fan favorites, including trivia night and karaoke. Together, all of the businesses in downtown Damascus showcase a busy, fun calendar of live music and events most nights of the week. Continued local support will be especially critical for local businesses throughout the 2026 season as Damascus continues to rebuild. Recovery is still ongoing in many ways, and storm-related, grant-funded projects are expected to continue through at least 2028, with an estimated $3.5 million in planned projects that will include streambank stabilization, parks restoration, urban and community forestry, and stormwater infrastructure. For decades now, the many trails around Damascus have been a source of economic growth and vitality. Through an incredible outpouring of community support and neighbors helping one another, Damascus is not only recovering from disaster but actively building a brighter future together. Just as Mayor Katie Lamb has said so many times over the past year and a half, "Not only will we get through this, we'll be back better than we've ever been!"